My last entry took a look at the quarterbacks selected in Round 1 of the 2011 NFL Draft. Now I'll focus on the signal callers picked in Round 2 and 3. Other quarterbacks were selected in later rounds, but the three from Day 2 were seen as potential first round picks, and should have an impact from the start in one way or another.
The Cincinnati Bengals held the third pick of Round 2, and were in desperate need of a quarterback. Desperate because Carson Palmer has come out and said 'trade me or I retire.' Threats like this fall on deaf ears to Mike Brown, the Bengals owner. Cincinnati went into the draft with Jordan Palmer and Dan Lefevour as their quarterbacks, who have a combined 15 pass attempts in the NFL. They stuck to their guns and picked A.J. Green in Round 1, and though they could have had Blaine Gabbert, the Bengals got the best offensive player in the draft. What Cincinnati didn't do was panic and trade up into the bottom of the first round. The player they were looking at was Andy Dalton, and he was there with the 35th overall pick. Dalton rated out good on the measureables, and very good with the intangibles. He is the leader the Bengals need, and a proven winner. The Bengals have had way too much drama than they have had success, and the additions of Green and Dalton will go a long way to reshaping the franchise.
San Francisco traded up in Round 2, and were able to pick the quarterback they had targeted in Colin Kaepernick from Nevada. Kaepernick has the athletic ability to be a spectacular quarterback in the NFL, and he also has plenty working against him. He worked in the Pistol offense at Nevada, taking snaps out of the shotgun and relying on his legs as well as his arm. It could be argued that Kaepernick is the second rounds' version of Cam Newton. Kaepernick entered the draft with perhaps the best arm other than Ryan Mallett, but he will need polishing as he enters the NFL. He will get a chance in San Francisco. Alex Smith is a free agent, and though the 49ers have shown an interest in re-signing the former #1 Overall selection from 2005, it looks like Smith will finish his career as a backup. Kaepernick is in a situation where he gets to work with a new coach in Jim Harbaugh, and the success of each is going to be tied together.
Ryan Mallett entered the draft with possibly the best NFL potential and the most red flags. He could throw the ball half way to tomorrow, but his bed side manner left a lot to be desired. Mallett was projected in some mock drafts as high as #12, but his fall through the ranks was quite a surprise. What was even more surprising was who did select him. The New England Patriots do not need a quarterback. Tom Brady is #1 or #2 in the game, depending on who you talk to. He does not go any further down the list. If the Patriots are in need of insurance, they already have Brian Hoyer on the roster. The drafting of Mallett could be a case of Matt Cassel revisited. Cassel got his chance when Brady went down with a knee injury in 2008. At the end of the season he was traded to Kansas City for a second round pick. Not a bad deal considering that Cassel was originally a seventh round pick. Could it be that New England, who have been hoarding draft picks like they are going out of style lately, have it in mind to hold on to Mallett with the intention of getting a higher pick for him. It would not surprise me. It would also not surprise me that a team in need of a quarterback would trade a first rounder for Mallett. Think about it. Bill Belichick keeps him out of trouble, plays him enough to show off his skills, and finds a trading partner. One thing is certain. Tom Brady isn't going to the bench any time soon. Which keeps Mallett on the bench. For now.
The seven quarterbacks selected in the first three rounds of the NFL Draft will go a long way to determining whether this draft is a boom or a bust. Just take a look at the first round of the 2005 NFL Draft. As bad as it turned out, it's better now that Aaron Rodgers has a Super Bowl win. The quarterback position is that important.
Showing posts with label Ryan Mallett. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ryan Mallett. Show all posts
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Monday, May 2, 2011
AFC East Draft Grades: New England Patriots
The New England Patriots are coming off of yet another AFC East title following a 14-2 regular season. But disappointment hit the Patriots once again after getting knocked out of the playoffs by division rival New York Jets at home. Bu New England went into the draft with three of the first 33 picks, and they were looking to reload. Their first selection at #17 was Nate Solder, the athletic 6'8 tackle from Colorado, who will team up with fellow man mountain Sebastian Vollmer to protect the edges for Tom Brady for years to come. New England traded their second pick in Round 1, and continued their philosophy of accumulating picks in later rounds.
New England got a cornerback at the top of Round 2 in Ras-I Dowling to pair up with last year's number one pick Devin McCourtey. Then the Patriots went for running back with a second round and third round pick in Shane Vereen and Stevan Ridley, respectively. But their second pick in Round 3 was the attention getter. Ryan Mallett was sitting there, and New England snared the strong armed quarterback. He will be groomed to be Tom Brady's replacement, or he will be the next Matt Cassel and be shipped out to a team in need of a quarterback who is willing to pay a high price.
New England didn't address their needs of rushing the passer or wide receiver. But it is futile to argue about the picks Bill Belichick makes. He makes them work out in the long run.
A late round sleeper pick for the Patriots looks to be Marcus Cannon, the mammoth guard from TCU selected in the fifth round. Cannon was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma, and will undergo chemotherapy treatments. He may sit out 2011 while he recuperates, but if he can come back either this year or next with a clean bill of health he could be a fixture at guard for a long time.
Draft Grade: B+
New England got a cornerback at the top of Round 2 in Ras-I Dowling to pair up with last year's number one pick Devin McCourtey. Then the Patriots went for running back with a second round and third round pick in Shane Vereen and Stevan Ridley, respectively. But their second pick in Round 3 was the attention getter. Ryan Mallett was sitting there, and New England snared the strong armed quarterback. He will be groomed to be Tom Brady's replacement, or he will be the next Matt Cassel and be shipped out to a team in need of a quarterback who is willing to pay a high price.
New England didn't address their needs of rushing the passer or wide receiver. But it is futile to argue about the picks Bill Belichick makes. He makes them work out in the long run.
A late round sleeper pick for the Patriots looks to be Marcus Cannon, the mammoth guard from TCU selected in the fifth round. Cannon was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma, and will undergo chemotherapy treatments. He may sit out 2011 while he recuperates, but if he can come back either this year or next with a clean bill of health he could be a fixture at guard for a long time.
Draft Grade: B+
AFC East Draft Grades: Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills come off of a 4-12 season in 2010, and held the third overall selection of the 2011 NFL Draft. The offense was good last season, but the defense needed the most help. And the Bills hit the mark with their first two picks. Marcell Dareus is an athletic defensive tackle who can both stop the run and pressure the passer effectively. But their second round pick may turn out to be just as valuable. Aaron Williams is a solid corner who can also play safety. The Buffalo secondary got lit up way too much last season, and Williams looks to be a solid piece to the defensive puzzle. Third round pick Kelvin Sheppard is an athletic linebacker who can play inside and outside.
Buffalo helped the defense through the draft, but quarterback was a position that they should have addressed at some time. Ryan Mallett was available when the Bills picked Sheppard, but Arizona also passed on the Arkansas quarterback in the third round. Both teams need help at the position and passed. That may say what you need to know about Mallett. Buffalo has said that Ryan Fitzpatrick is their guy at quarterback, and they will go into 2011 with the Harvard grad calling the shots under center.
A late round sleeper for the Bills looks to be Chris Hairston, an offensive lineman selected in the fourth round. Buffalo's offensive line has had issues since Jason Peter went to Philadelphia, and it may not be long before Hairston her a chance. He has the size, strength and athletic ability to make an impact on an offensive line that has been thin at times.
Draft Grade: B
Buffalo helped the defense through the draft, but quarterback was a position that they should have addressed at some time. Ryan Mallett was available when the Bills picked Sheppard, but Arizona also passed on the Arkansas quarterback in the third round. Both teams need help at the position and passed. That may say what you need to know about Mallett. Buffalo has said that Ryan Fitzpatrick is their guy at quarterback, and they will go into 2011 with the Harvard grad calling the shots under center.
A late round sleeper for the Bills looks to be Chris Hairston, an offensive lineman selected in the fourth round. Buffalo's offensive line has had issues since Jason Peter went to Philadelphia, and it may not be long before Hairston her a chance. He has the size, strength and athletic ability to make an impact on an offensive line that has been thin at times.
Draft Grade: B
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
DSA Player Rankings 6.0--2011 Final
It is two days until the 2011 NFL Draft, and today I am posting my final DSA Player Rankings for this year. It seems that the prospects at the top have pretty much been solidified in their draft slots, and that is due to the uncertainty of the lockout and labor negotiations. Teams still have not been able to sign free agents, even with the ruling that came down yesterday. So it looks like this is going to be the draft for needs, not just the draft for the best player available. So here is the final DSA Player Rankings for 2011:
DSA Rankings 6.0 4-28-11
1) Cam Newton 1.30
2) Marcel Dareus 1.90
3) Von Miller 3.60
4) A.J. Green 4.20
5) Blaine Gabbert 5.00
6) Patrick Peterson 6.40
7) Robert Quinn 7.00
8) Nick Fairley 7.40
9) Julio Jones 9.20
10) Tyron Smith 9.40
11) Prince Amukamara 12.20
12) Cameron Jordan 13.30
13) Aldon Smith 15.10
14) Corey Liuget 15.40
15) J.J, Watt 16.00
16) Ryan Kerrigan 16.70
17) Anthony Castanzo 17.10
18) Mike Pouncey 17.40
19) Da'Quan Bowers 18.20
20) Mark Ingram 21.00
21) Gabe Carimi 22.60
22) Jimmy Smith 24.50
23) Cameron Heyward 25.90
24) Derek Sherrod 26.60
25) Nate Solder 26.80
26) Muhammad Wilkerson 27.10
27) Akeem Ayers 28.30
28) Phil Taylor 28.50
29) Jake Locker 29.90
30) Danny Watkins 30.30
31) Adrian Clayborn 30.70
32) Aaron Williams 31.10
The biggest upward movers going into the final weeks of the draft has been Cameron Heyward, who moved up seven slots in the latest DSA's. Corey Liuget jumped up six positions, while Tyron Smith and Cameron Jordan shot up five slots each. The players who travelled south the most were Adrian Clayborn, who for some reason dropped ten slots down to #31, and Da'Quan Bowers, who fell another eight spots to #19. Teams are getting nervous about Bowers and just how healthy his knee is, but Clayborn is a bit of a mystery. I believe he is more a victim of the numbers with a deep class at defensive end and could very well go in the mid-first round.
Looking back at the first DSA's I posted back in February compared to the final in late April, there are a number of players who saw their stock rise and fall in the eyes of draftniks during the past two months. Nick Fairley was a unanimous #1 Overall selection, then dropped to a near unanimous #8 pick for Tennessee. Akeem Ayers fell twelve spots to #27, and Adrian Clayborn went south thirteen positions to #31. Brandon Harris was #22 and Ryan Mallett was #23, and both are not anywhere near the top 32 in the final rankings.
Cam Newton started at #8, and moved all the way to the top before the draft. Corey Liuget shot up eleven slots to #14, and Mike Pouncey gained nine spots to #18. Muhammad Wilkerson and Danny Watkins both made the largest jump from outside the first 32 to the final, both moving up ten slots to #26 and #30, respectively.
But nothing compares to the draft odyssey of Da'Quan Bowers. I could do this for another hundred years and not see anything like it again. Bowers was second after the initial DSA Players Rankings, then moved up to the top spot for DSA 2.0. Then the NFL Scouting Combine came around. Bowers did not work out due to knee surgery. Then he had a poor showing at the Clemson Pro Day, mostly due to not being able to work out while rehabbing his knee. Then the rumors circulated. Out of shape. Knee not responding. Arthritic knee. And his stock began to drop. And drop. And drop. All the way to #19 of the final DSA Player Rankings. I'm hoping he proves all the naysayers wrong, is 100% healthy, and hits the field with a whole bags of chips on his shoulder. If that's the case, he will be the biggest bargain of the draft if he indeed falls to the mid-late first round. We will find out Thursday night and in the months ahead.
DSA Rankings 6.0 4-28-11
1) Cam Newton 1.30
2) Marcel Dareus 1.90
3) Von Miller 3.60
4) A.J. Green 4.20
5) Blaine Gabbert 5.00
6) Patrick Peterson 6.40
7) Robert Quinn 7.00
8) Nick Fairley 7.40
9) Julio Jones 9.20
10) Tyron Smith 9.40
11) Prince Amukamara 12.20
12) Cameron Jordan 13.30
13) Aldon Smith 15.10
14) Corey Liuget 15.40
15) J.J, Watt 16.00
16) Ryan Kerrigan 16.70
17) Anthony Castanzo 17.10
18) Mike Pouncey 17.40
19) Da'Quan Bowers 18.20
20) Mark Ingram 21.00
21) Gabe Carimi 22.60
22) Jimmy Smith 24.50
23) Cameron Heyward 25.90
24) Derek Sherrod 26.60
25) Nate Solder 26.80
26) Muhammad Wilkerson 27.10
27) Akeem Ayers 28.30
28) Phil Taylor 28.50
29) Jake Locker 29.90
30) Danny Watkins 30.30
31) Adrian Clayborn 30.70
32) Aaron Williams 31.10
The biggest upward movers going into the final weeks of the draft has been Cameron Heyward, who moved up seven slots in the latest DSA's. Corey Liuget jumped up six positions, while Tyron Smith and Cameron Jordan shot up five slots each. The players who travelled south the most were Adrian Clayborn, who for some reason dropped ten slots down to #31, and Da'Quan Bowers, who fell another eight spots to #19. Teams are getting nervous about Bowers and just how healthy his knee is, but Clayborn is a bit of a mystery. I believe he is more a victim of the numbers with a deep class at defensive end and could very well go in the mid-first round.
Looking back at the first DSA's I posted back in February compared to the final in late April, there are a number of players who saw their stock rise and fall in the eyes of draftniks during the past two months. Nick Fairley was a unanimous #1 Overall selection, then dropped to a near unanimous #8 pick for Tennessee. Akeem Ayers fell twelve spots to #27, and Adrian Clayborn went south thirteen positions to #31. Brandon Harris was #22 and Ryan Mallett was #23, and both are not anywhere near the top 32 in the final rankings.
Cam Newton started at #8, and moved all the way to the top before the draft. Corey Liuget shot up eleven slots to #14, and Mike Pouncey gained nine spots to #18. Muhammad Wilkerson and Danny Watkins both made the largest jump from outside the first 32 to the final, both moving up ten slots to #26 and #30, respectively.
But nothing compares to the draft odyssey of Da'Quan Bowers. I could do this for another hundred years and not see anything like it again. Bowers was second after the initial DSA Players Rankings, then moved up to the top spot for DSA 2.0. Then the NFL Scouting Combine came around. Bowers did not work out due to knee surgery. Then he had a poor showing at the Clemson Pro Day, mostly due to not being able to work out while rehabbing his knee. Then the rumors circulated. Out of shape. Knee not responding. Arthritic knee. And his stock began to drop. And drop. And drop. All the way to #19 of the final DSA Player Rankings. I'm hoping he proves all the naysayers wrong, is 100% healthy, and hits the field with a whole bags of chips on his shoulder. If that's the case, he will be the biggest bargain of the draft if he indeed falls to the mid-late first round. We will find out Thursday night and in the months ahead.
Friday, April 22, 2011
Draft Trade Regrets and the Binary Stars
I wonder how much regret the Carolina Panthers have now concerning the draft day trade they made with New England last season. You know they would not admit to it, but there has to be some in there somewhere.
Last year, Carolina traded a 2011 second round pick with the Patriots for a third round selection. With that pick, the Panthers took Armanti Edwards. I still scratch my head as the the why this pick occurred. Carolina already had Matt Moore at quarterback, and had just drafted Jimmy Clausen. The next day, they picked Tony Pike, the quarterback from Cincinnati. Did they plan to involve Edwards in a wildcat system, or perhaps move him to another position? They did play him at receiver, but he recorded zero catches and was listed as the third quarterback after Moore's season came to an early end. It seems to me that Carlina could have used the selection on an actual receiver such as Mardy Gilyard or Mike Williams, or a tight end, as Tony Moeaki and Jimmy Graham went five and seven picks after Edwards, respectively.
Now it appears the Panthers are going to use the #1 overall pick of the 2011 NFL Draft on Cam Newton. There has even been talk that they could take A.J. Green, the wide receiver from Georgia. In either case, where does Edwards fit in the long term plans for Carolina? I'm sure they have something in mind, and I can't wait to see it. I've pretty much scratched my scalp away.
We'll never know if another player taken in place of Edwards would have improved the fortunes of Carolina, and the result of the trade is that this year they will not have the first pick of the second round to pair up with their #1 and use the tandem to rebuild the franchise. Since 2003, there is plenty of evidence to suggest that teams selecting in the top 3 of both the first and second rounds can get a pair of stars and use them as building blocks for the future. I call them the Binary Stars.
In 2010, St. Louis took Sam Bradford #1 overall, then got Rodger Saffold at the top of Round 2. Saffold started all 16 games at left tackle and looks to be a fixture there for a long time. The two seasons previous, the Rams selected Jason Smith and James Laurinatis in 2009 along with Chris Long and Donnie Avery in 2008. You have a quarterback, speed receiver, two bookend tackles, a pass rushing end and the leader of the defense at middle linebacker. The Rams were one game away from the playoffs in 2010, and look to be a force in the NFC West for years to come.
Detroit has also use the binary star system to their advantage the last two seasons. The 2010 NFL Draft brought Ndamukong Suh at #2 overall, then they traded up four spots to select Jahvid Best. In 2009, the Lions got the hat trick by picking Matthew Stafford, Brandon Pettigrew and Louis Delmas. Injuries have limited the effectiveness of Stafford, Pettigrew and Best, but when they have been on the field they have shown Lions fans that there is plenty of hope for the future. The only pick I have had some disagreement on was taking Pettigrew instead of Michael Oher. You have to protect your franchise quarterback, and Oher has been very good with Baltimore, but Pettigrew has only gotten better and should see plenty of openings on the field as long as teams are focusing on Calvin Johnson.
Atlanta struck gold with their binary stars in 2008 with the selection of Matt Ryan at #3 overall, then trading up to take Sam Baker to play left tackle. The New York Giants did as well in 2004, acquiring Eli Manning then picking Chris Snee in Round 2. What is really interesting is that the Giants traded Phillip Rivers for a number of picks for Manning, and many saw the pick of Snee as paternal more than anything because the Boston College guard was engaged to coach Tom Coughlin's daughter. A Super Bowl win over the undefeated New England Patriots and a number of Pro Bowl appearances later has vindicated the picks.
The Marvin Lewis era in Cincinnati began with the selection of quarterback Carson Palmer first overall in 2003, followed by taking Eric Steinbach at the top of Round 2. Palmer sat his rookie season, while Steinbach started from Day 1. In their third season, the Bengals won the AFC North, their first winning season in 15 years. Steinbach left after the 2006 season, signing a free agent contract with Cleveland, where he has been one of the best guards in the league. Palmer has taken a beating since Steinbach left. He led Cincinnati to another division title in 2009, but now he wants out of town and has threatened to retire. But in the time Palmer was passing behind the protection of Steinbach, he was one of the brightest stars in the league.
If Carolina still had the first pick of the second round, it would be interesting to see how their draft day strategy would play out. Would they still take a quarterback #1 overall and an offensive lineman to protect him in Round 2, or perhaps take Green, Marcell Dareus or Patrick Peterson first, then go for Ryan Mallett, Jake Locker, Andy Dalton or Christian Ponder with their next pick. We'll never know, because the New England Patriots have that pick, and the Carolnia Panthers are still working on where to play Armanti Edwards. Edwards still has a chance to be an impact player for the Panthers, but most likely not this year. We shall see.
Last year, Carolina traded a 2011 second round pick with the Patriots for a third round selection. With that pick, the Panthers took Armanti Edwards. I still scratch my head as the the why this pick occurred. Carolina already had Matt Moore at quarterback, and had just drafted Jimmy Clausen. The next day, they picked Tony Pike, the quarterback from Cincinnati. Did they plan to involve Edwards in a wildcat system, or perhaps move him to another position? They did play him at receiver, but he recorded zero catches and was listed as the third quarterback after Moore's season came to an early end. It seems to me that Carlina could have used the selection on an actual receiver such as Mardy Gilyard or Mike Williams, or a tight end, as Tony Moeaki and Jimmy Graham went five and seven picks after Edwards, respectively.
Now it appears the Panthers are going to use the #1 overall pick of the 2011 NFL Draft on Cam Newton. There has even been talk that they could take A.J. Green, the wide receiver from Georgia. In either case, where does Edwards fit in the long term plans for Carolina? I'm sure they have something in mind, and I can't wait to see it. I've pretty much scratched my scalp away.
We'll never know if another player taken in place of Edwards would have improved the fortunes of Carolina, and the result of the trade is that this year they will not have the first pick of the second round to pair up with their #1 and use the tandem to rebuild the franchise. Since 2003, there is plenty of evidence to suggest that teams selecting in the top 3 of both the first and second rounds can get a pair of stars and use them as building blocks for the future. I call them the Binary Stars.
In 2010, St. Louis took Sam Bradford #1 overall, then got Rodger Saffold at the top of Round 2. Saffold started all 16 games at left tackle and looks to be a fixture there for a long time. The two seasons previous, the Rams selected Jason Smith and James Laurinatis in 2009 along with Chris Long and Donnie Avery in 2008. You have a quarterback, speed receiver, two bookend tackles, a pass rushing end and the leader of the defense at middle linebacker. The Rams were one game away from the playoffs in 2010, and look to be a force in the NFC West for years to come.
Detroit has also use the binary star system to their advantage the last two seasons. The 2010 NFL Draft brought Ndamukong Suh at #2 overall, then they traded up four spots to select Jahvid Best. In 2009, the Lions got the hat trick by picking Matthew Stafford, Brandon Pettigrew and Louis Delmas. Injuries have limited the effectiveness of Stafford, Pettigrew and Best, but when they have been on the field they have shown Lions fans that there is plenty of hope for the future. The only pick I have had some disagreement on was taking Pettigrew instead of Michael Oher. You have to protect your franchise quarterback, and Oher has been very good with Baltimore, but Pettigrew has only gotten better and should see plenty of openings on the field as long as teams are focusing on Calvin Johnson.
Atlanta struck gold with their binary stars in 2008 with the selection of Matt Ryan at #3 overall, then trading up to take Sam Baker to play left tackle. The New York Giants did as well in 2004, acquiring Eli Manning then picking Chris Snee in Round 2. What is really interesting is that the Giants traded Phillip Rivers for a number of picks for Manning, and many saw the pick of Snee as paternal more than anything because the Boston College guard was engaged to coach Tom Coughlin's daughter. A Super Bowl win over the undefeated New England Patriots and a number of Pro Bowl appearances later has vindicated the picks.
The Marvin Lewis era in Cincinnati began with the selection of quarterback Carson Palmer first overall in 2003, followed by taking Eric Steinbach at the top of Round 2. Palmer sat his rookie season, while Steinbach started from Day 1. In their third season, the Bengals won the AFC North, their first winning season in 15 years. Steinbach left after the 2006 season, signing a free agent contract with Cleveland, where he has been one of the best guards in the league. Palmer has taken a beating since Steinbach left. He led Cincinnati to another division title in 2009, but now he wants out of town and has threatened to retire. But in the time Palmer was passing behind the protection of Steinbach, he was one of the brightest stars in the league.
If Carolina still had the first pick of the second round, it would be interesting to see how their draft day strategy would play out. Would they still take a quarterback #1 overall and an offensive lineman to protect him in Round 2, or perhaps take Green, Marcell Dareus or Patrick Peterson first, then go for Ryan Mallett, Jake Locker, Andy Dalton or Christian Ponder with their next pick. We'll never know, because the New England Patriots have that pick, and the Carolnia Panthers are still working on where to play Armanti Edwards. Edwards still has a chance to be an impact player for the Panthers, but most likely not this year. We shall see.
Saturday, April 16, 2011
Franchising in the 2nd Round
Going into the NFL Draft, teams that don't already their franchise quarterback are on the lookout for one. Quarterback is the most important position in all of team sports, and is also the face of the franchise. Selecting the right player can put a franchise on the path to greatness. The wrong pick can set a team back for years.
The last three years, there has been at least one quarterback seen as the franchise quarterback of the draft. Sam Bradford in 2010, Matthew Stafford in 2009, and Matt Ryan in 2008. The Jets saw Mark Sanchez as their guy in 2009, and traded up to the #5 spot to select him. Bradford, Ryan and Sanchez have lived up to their lofty billing, while Stafford is still trying to overcome the injury bug that has plagued him so far. In 2011, the two players seen as the franchise quarterbacks of the future are Blaine Gabbert and Cam Newton, and both will be gone early in the first round.
There has been a lot of talk lately about as many as 6 quarterbacks going in the first round, with Ryan Mallett, Jake Locker, Christian Ponder, Andy Dalton, Colin Kaepernick and even Ricky Stanzi moving into the first round. Conventional wisdom would suggest that if someone sees six signal callers as first round talents, that a team can still select them in the second round and get a franchise quarterback. But in the words of Lee Corso, not so fast, my friends.
Going back to the 2000 NFL Draft, there have been a total of 12 quarterbacks selected in the 2nd Round of the NFL Draft. Yes, only twelve. Currently, there are eleven quarterbacks that are starters in the NFL that were selected in the third round or later, or not at all. Of the 12 selected since 2000, the only one that you could consider as a franchise quarterback would be Drew Brees. Kevin Kolb was a second round pick in 2007, but as of now he is a backup to Michael Vick, although once the lockout is lifted he will most likely become a franchise quarterback for another team.
Of the 12, only Jimmy Clausen and Chad Henne are starters other than Brees. And it could be argued that neither one is going to be starting in 2011. Quincy Carter and Marques Tuiasosopo were selected after Brees in 2001. Kellen Clemens and Tavaris Jackson in 2006. John Beck and Drew Stanton along with Kolb in 2007. Brian Brohm with Henne in 2009, and Pat White in 2009. But what caught my eye was that in 2000, and 2002-2005 there were no quarterbacks selected in the second round.
The second round seems to be a no man's land for quarterbacks. Not as much pressure on them as there are on the first rounders, but also not as much talent and potential. Good enough to play right away and drafted high enough that there isn't as much patience afforded to a later round draft pick. If you look at the second tier quarterbacks in 2011, Mallett and Locker have the talent to go in the first round and perform to that level. The rest would be better served going after round 2. They are all talented quarterbacks, but franchise quarterbacks they are not. All of them will need time and patience, and if they are selected early in the draft they may not get the opportunity they truly need to shine in the NFL.
The NFL Draft has been and always will be part scientific evaluation of talent, part crap shoot. The quarterback position only magnifies this situation. Only time will tell how these prospects handle the position. It will also be interesting to see just how much or how little patience they are afforded. As everyone knows, time is a luxury not allowed to a non-winning franchise.
The last three years, there has been at least one quarterback seen as the franchise quarterback of the draft. Sam Bradford in 2010, Matthew Stafford in 2009, and Matt Ryan in 2008. The Jets saw Mark Sanchez as their guy in 2009, and traded up to the #5 spot to select him. Bradford, Ryan and Sanchez have lived up to their lofty billing, while Stafford is still trying to overcome the injury bug that has plagued him so far. In 2011, the two players seen as the franchise quarterbacks of the future are Blaine Gabbert and Cam Newton, and both will be gone early in the first round.
There has been a lot of talk lately about as many as 6 quarterbacks going in the first round, with Ryan Mallett, Jake Locker, Christian Ponder, Andy Dalton, Colin Kaepernick and even Ricky Stanzi moving into the first round. Conventional wisdom would suggest that if someone sees six signal callers as first round talents, that a team can still select them in the second round and get a franchise quarterback. But in the words of Lee Corso, not so fast, my friends.
Going back to the 2000 NFL Draft, there have been a total of 12 quarterbacks selected in the 2nd Round of the NFL Draft. Yes, only twelve. Currently, there are eleven quarterbacks that are starters in the NFL that were selected in the third round or later, or not at all. Of the 12 selected since 2000, the only one that you could consider as a franchise quarterback would be Drew Brees. Kevin Kolb was a second round pick in 2007, but as of now he is a backup to Michael Vick, although once the lockout is lifted he will most likely become a franchise quarterback for another team.
Of the 12, only Jimmy Clausen and Chad Henne are starters other than Brees. And it could be argued that neither one is going to be starting in 2011. Quincy Carter and Marques Tuiasosopo were selected after Brees in 2001. Kellen Clemens and Tavaris Jackson in 2006. John Beck and Drew Stanton along with Kolb in 2007. Brian Brohm with Henne in 2009, and Pat White in 2009. But what caught my eye was that in 2000, and 2002-2005 there were no quarterbacks selected in the second round.
The second round seems to be a no man's land for quarterbacks. Not as much pressure on them as there are on the first rounders, but also not as much talent and potential. Good enough to play right away and drafted high enough that there isn't as much patience afforded to a later round draft pick. If you look at the second tier quarterbacks in 2011, Mallett and Locker have the talent to go in the first round and perform to that level. The rest would be better served going after round 2. They are all talented quarterbacks, but franchise quarterbacks they are not. All of them will need time and patience, and if they are selected early in the draft they may not get the opportunity they truly need to shine in the NFL.
The NFL Draft has been and always will be part scientific evaluation of talent, part crap shoot. The quarterback position only magnifies this situation. Only time will tell how these prospects handle the position. It will also be interesting to see just how much or how little patience they are afforded. As everyone knows, time is a luxury not allowed to a non-winning franchise.
Thursday, April 14, 2011
DSA Player Rankings 5.0
The 2011 NFL Draft is now two weeks away. Mock drafts are coming fast and furious. And this is the point of the process where the draftniks need to be seen, and the best way is to make the shocking pick. Last year, it was Tim Tebow. Just about everyone had Tebow going in round 2 or later, then the Florida quarterback started creeping up the mock draft boards. Tebow had his highest mock draft slot at #9 to Buffalo, and eventually he went to Denver at #25.
This year, with the lockout preventing the onset of free agency, teams will not be able to fill needs with free agents and then select the best player available. The draft is going to be the need filler this year, and it will be tough to envision a shocking draft pick. Perhaps Ryan Mallett or Jake Locker could move into the Top 10, going to San Francisco or Tennessee, or even Julio Jones going as high as #4 to Cincinnati if A.J. Green is no longer available. But the player I see moving up mock draft boards in the next two weeks is Marvin Austin, the defensive tackle from North Carolina.
Austin had to sit out the 2010 season because of NCAA violations. But he had a good workout at the NFL Scouting Combine, and his pro day workout was even better. There are questions about his motor at times, but the ability is there, and he could very easily move into Round 1. Another issue that has dogged Austin was that he didn't play last year, but that has not hampered his college teammate, Robert Quinn, and it will be interesting to see how high he rises on mock drafts in the next two weeks. For now, Austin is not on the Top 32 in the latest DSA Player Rankings, but when the final list is published before the draft, I would not be surprised to see his name moving up. So here are the DSA Player Rankings 5.0 for the 2011 NFL Draft:
DSA Rankings 5.0 Plus/
4-14-11 Minus
1) Cam Newton +1
2) Marcel Dareus -1
3) Von Miller +2
4) A.J. Green +2
5) Blaine Gabbert -2
6) Patrick Peterson -2
7) Nick Fairley 0
8) Robert Quinn +3
9) Julio Jones +1
10) Prince Amukamara -2
11) Da'Quan Bowers -2
12) J.J, Watt 0
13) Anthony Castanzo +5
14) Aldon Smith +1
15) Tyron Smith -1
16) Ryan Kerrigan +1
17) Cameron Jordan -1
18) Mike Pouncey +1
19) Mark Ingram -6
20) Corey Liuget +5
21) Adrian Clayborn -1
22) Jimmy Smith +5
23) Nate Solder -1
24) Gabe Carimi -1
25) Akeem Ayers +4
26) Muhammad Wilkerson +5
27) Derek Sherrod -1
28) Justin Houston -4
29) Phil Taylor +3
30) Cameron Heyward -2
31) Jake Locker -10
32) Brandon Harris +2
The biggest movers up the DSA Player Rankings have been Anthony Castanzo, Muhammad Wilkerson, Coery Liuget, and Jimmy Smith. All four players moved up 5 spots each. But the biggest mover of all was Jake Locker, who fell 10 spots from #21 to #31. Btu I can see one of two scenarios on the opening day of the draft concerning Locker: he is going to go in the top 15, or a team will trade up to the end of the round and select the athletic signal caller. Many see Seattle as a team that would take Locker with the 25th pick, but Pete Carroll didn't trade away pick for Charlie Whitehurst for nothing. New England has a history of trading picks, and with the 33rd selection as well, the Patriots could be a trading partner. But Seattle could get a very nice package of picks at #25 if someone is high enough on Locker. The 2011 NFL Draft is in two weeks. It will be interesting to see how it all plays out in prime time at Radio City Music Hall.
This year, with the lockout preventing the onset of free agency, teams will not be able to fill needs with free agents and then select the best player available. The draft is going to be the need filler this year, and it will be tough to envision a shocking draft pick. Perhaps Ryan Mallett or Jake Locker could move into the Top 10, going to San Francisco or Tennessee, or even Julio Jones going as high as #4 to Cincinnati if A.J. Green is no longer available. But the player I see moving up mock draft boards in the next two weeks is Marvin Austin, the defensive tackle from North Carolina.
Austin had to sit out the 2010 season because of NCAA violations. But he had a good workout at the NFL Scouting Combine, and his pro day workout was even better. There are questions about his motor at times, but the ability is there, and he could very easily move into Round 1. Another issue that has dogged Austin was that he didn't play last year, but that has not hampered his college teammate, Robert Quinn, and it will be interesting to see how high he rises on mock drafts in the next two weeks. For now, Austin is not on the Top 32 in the latest DSA Player Rankings, but when the final list is published before the draft, I would not be surprised to see his name moving up. So here are the DSA Player Rankings 5.0 for the 2011 NFL Draft:
DSA Rankings 5.0 Plus/
4-14-11 Minus
1) Cam Newton +1
2) Marcel Dareus -1
3) Von Miller +2
4) A.J. Green +2
5) Blaine Gabbert -2
6) Patrick Peterson -2
7) Nick Fairley 0
8) Robert Quinn +3
9) Julio Jones +1
10) Prince Amukamara -2
11) Da'Quan Bowers -2
12) J.J, Watt 0
13) Anthony Castanzo +5
14) Aldon Smith +1
15) Tyron Smith -1
16) Ryan Kerrigan +1
17) Cameron Jordan -1
18) Mike Pouncey +1
19) Mark Ingram -6
20) Corey Liuget +5
21) Adrian Clayborn -1
22) Jimmy Smith +5
23) Nate Solder -1
24) Gabe Carimi -1
25) Akeem Ayers +4
26) Muhammad Wilkerson +5
27) Derek Sherrod -1
28) Justin Houston -4
29) Phil Taylor +3
30) Cameron Heyward -2
31) Jake Locker -10
32) Brandon Harris +2
The biggest movers up the DSA Player Rankings have been Anthony Castanzo, Muhammad Wilkerson, Coery Liuget, and Jimmy Smith. All four players moved up 5 spots each. But the biggest mover of all was Jake Locker, who fell 10 spots from #21 to #31. Btu I can see one of two scenarios on the opening day of the draft concerning Locker: he is going to go in the top 15, or a team will trade up to the end of the round and select the athletic signal caller. Many see Seattle as a team that would take Locker with the 25th pick, but Pete Carroll didn't trade away pick for Charlie Whitehurst for nothing. New England has a history of trading picks, and with the 33rd selection as well, the Patriots could be a trading partner. But Seattle could get a very nice package of picks at #25 if someone is high enough on Locker. The 2011 NFL Draft is in two weeks. It will be interesting to see how it all plays out in prime time at Radio City Music Hall.
Friday, March 11, 2011
Panic in the Draft Rooms
Now that Pro Days have kicked into high gear on campuses across the land, it is also the time of year that one word starts to creep into draft rooms of NFL teams. Panic.
The panic comes from teams not having a franchise quarterback. Plain and simple. When mock drafts started to be released even before the Super Bowl, Blaine Gabbert and Cam Newton were seen as potential #5-#15 picks, with Jake Locker and Ryan Mallett late first or even second round picks. Their performances at the combine, one would think, didn't endear the top quarterbacks to many teams. Gabbert didn't throw. Newton couldn't hit water if he were standing on a pier. Mallett answered questions at his media interviews as if he were running for office. Locker had the best overall workout, but there are accuracy questions from his senior season that still linger. After all, what top of the draft quarterback goes into the second half of his bowl game before completing a pass?
Now Pro Days have begun. Quarterbacks can show off their wares to teams under controlled and scripted workouts. Throw to receivers they are familiar with. Work with coaches that know them and their routine. And the biggest benefit of all-NFL teams start to panic and tell themselves 'We need a quarterback. We need a quarterback. We need a quarterback.'
So the Post-Combine mock drafts that are coming out are more and more putting either Gabbert or Newton at the first overall pick of the Carolina Panthers, third to Buffalo, and fourth to Cincinnati. Arizona, San Francisco, Tennessee and Washington are also looking for quarterbacks within the top ten. So when panic sets in at NFL Drafts Rooms, quarterbacks rise to the top of the boards.
The player who is going to benefit the most may be Ryan Mallett. Character issues are still following him, but there is no denying his talent. Of the four top quarterbacks, he is by far the most pro ready. Played in a pro style/non-spread offense, and has the best arm. A team that cannot draft Gabbert, Newton or Locker is going to trade up into the first round and grab Mallett. Which means the team that drafts Mallett is going to have a very solid piece of the puzzle in place from the top of the first round and then select their quarterback. The question is: Which team is going to panic the least and wait for the draft to unfold? We shall see.
The panic comes from teams not having a franchise quarterback. Plain and simple. When mock drafts started to be released even before the Super Bowl, Blaine Gabbert and Cam Newton were seen as potential #5-#15 picks, with Jake Locker and Ryan Mallett late first or even second round picks. Their performances at the combine, one would think, didn't endear the top quarterbacks to many teams. Gabbert didn't throw. Newton couldn't hit water if he were standing on a pier. Mallett answered questions at his media interviews as if he were running for office. Locker had the best overall workout, but there are accuracy questions from his senior season that still linger. After all, what top of the draft quarterback goes into the second half of his bowl game before completing a pass?
Now Pro Days have begun. Quarterbacks can show off their wares to teams under controlled and scripted workouts. Throw to receivers they are familiar with. Work with coaches that know them and their routine. And the biggest benefit of all-NFL teams start to panic and tell themselves 'We need a quarterback. We need a quarterback. We need a quarterback.'
So the Post-Combine mock drafts that are coming out are more and more putting either Gabbert or Newton at the first overall pick of the Carolina Panthers, third to Buffalo, and fourth to Cincinnati. Arizona, San Francisco, Tennessee and Washington are also looking for quarterbacks within the top ten. So when panic sets in at NFL Drafts Rooms, quarterbacks rise to the top of the boards.
The player who is going to benefit the most may be Ryan Mallett. Character issues are still following him, but there is no denying his talent. Of the four top quarterbacks, he is by far the most pro ready. Played in a pro style/non-spread offense, and has the best arm. A team that cannot draft Gabbert, Newton or Locker is going to trade up into the first round and grab Mallett. Which means the team that drafts Mallett is going to have a very solid piece of the puzzle in place from the top of the first round and then select their quarterback. The question is: Which team is going to panic the least and wait for the draft to unfold? We shall see.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
DSA Rankings 2.0
After the last round of pre-scouting combine Mock Drafts, I have put together the second Draft Slot Average Player Rankings for the upcoming 2011 NFL Draft. The information was accumulated from Mock Drafts leading up to the NFL Scouting Combine, and does not reflect the workouts from this past week in Indianapolis. Considering the outstanding performances of Julio Jones, Marcell Dareus, Robert Quinn, Patrick Peterson, Prince Amukamara and others, as well as the less than stellar workouts of Cam Newton, Cameron Heyward, Torrey Smith, and the evasive answers from Ryan Mallett (whose on-field workouts though may have been the best of any quarterback), Mock Drafts everywhere are sure to have a major shakeup. But here are the DSA Player Rankings 2.0 for the 2011 NFL Draft:
DSA Rankings 2.0 3-1-11
Da'Quan Bowers 1.70
Nick Fairley 3.50
A.J. Green 4.20
Patrick Peterson 4.30
Von Miller 5.60
Cam Newton 5.80
Marcel Dareus 6.00
Blaine Gabbert 7.00
Prince Amukamara 8.30
Robert Quinn 12.70
J.J, Watt 12.90
Julio Jones 14.00
Ryan Kerrigan 16.50
Cameron Jordan 17.10
Nate Solder 17.20
Mark Ingram 18.60
Adrian Clayborn 19.10
Tyron Smith 20.30
Aldon Smith 20.30
Akeem Ayers 20.30
Anthony Castanzo 21.90
Justin Houston 23.30
Gabe Carimi 24.40
Mike Pouncey 24.50
Jake Locker 25.10
Corey Liuget 25.10
Jimmy Smith 25.60
Cameron Heyward 27.10
Mikel Leshoure 30.50
Brandon Harris 30.80
Ryan Mallett 32.80
Jonathon Baldwin 32.90
Phil Taylor 34.00
Derek Sherrod 34.20
Stephen Paea 34.80
Allen Bailey 34.90
Titus Young 35.20
Torrey Smith 35.40
Kyle Rudolph 35.40
Muhammad Wilkerson 35.70
Benjamin Ijalana 36.70
Aaron Williams 37.20
Danny Watkins 37.80
Stefan Wisniewski 39.80
The biggest gainers were Mikel Leshoure and J.J. Watt, who moved up 9 and 8 places, respectively. The players who fell the most were Brandon Harris and Ryan Mallett, who dropped 8 spots each. Da'Quan Bowers took over the top spot from Nick Fairley, who had been a unanimous choice for the #1 overall selection. But after the Scouting Combine, there is sure to be an even bigger shuffling of players up and down the DSA Player Ranking boards. We shall see.
DSA Rankings 2.0 3-1-11
Da'Quan Bowers 1.70
Nick Fairley 3.50
A.J. Green 4.20
Patrick Peterson 4.30
Von Miller 5.60
Cam Newton 5.80
Marcel Dareus 6.00
Blaine Gabbert 7.00
Prince Amukamara 8.30
Robert Quinn 12.70
J.J, Watt 12.90
Julio Jones 14.00
Ryan Kerrigan 16.50
Cameron Jordan 17.10
Nate Solder 17.20
Mark Ingram 18.60
Adrian Clayborn 19.10
Tyron Smith 20.30
Aldon Smith 20.30
Akeem Ayers 20.30
Anthony Castanzo 21.90
Justin Houston 23.30
Gabe Carimi 24.40
Mike Pouncey 24.50
Jake Locker 25.10
Corey Liuget 25.10
Jimmy Smith 25.60
Cameron Heyward 27.10
Mikel Leshoure 30.50
Brandon Harris 30.80
Ryan Mallett 32.80
Jonathon Baldwin 32.90
Phil Taylor 34.00
Derek Sherrod 34.20
Stephen Paea 34.80
Allen Bailey 34.90
Titus Young 35.20
Torrey Smith 35.40
Kyle Rudolph 35.40
Muhammad Wilkerson 35.70
Benjamin Ijalana 36.70
Aaron Williams 37.20
Danny Watkins 37.80
Stefan Wisniewski 39.80
The biggest gainers were Mikel Leshoure and J.J. Watt, who moved up 9 and 8 places, respectively. The players who fell the most were Brandon Harris and Ryan Mallett, who dropped 8 spots each. Da'Quan Bowers took over the top spot from Nick Fairley, who had been a unanimous choice for the #1 overall selection. But after the Scouting Combine, there is sure to be an even bigger shuffling of players up and down the DSA Player Ranking boards. We shall see.
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Early Returns
The first wave of Post-Super Bowl 2011 NFL Mock Drafts are starting to roll in, and here are some early observations from the Mock Draft information I have gathered so far:
Nick Fairley is nearly a lock to go #1 Overall to Carolina.
Patrick Peterson, Da'Quan Bowers, and A.J. Green look to be going #2-4, but which order is up for grabs.
Blaine Gabbert looks to be the first quarterback taken, but Cam Newton is gaining ground fast.
Ryan Mallett and Jake Locker may not go in the first round at all.
There will be more defensive players taken in the first round than offensive.
Tight End and Safety are the two thinnest positions at the top of the draft.
There may not be an offensive lineman selected in the top 10. How rare is that? The last time it happened was in 2005.
I will soon be posting my first DSA Player Rankings of 2011, along with my own Mock Draft. With the ongoing labor negotiations, it will be interesting to see how it will effect the NFL Scouting Combine coming up at the end of February. The Combine has been the one venue where draft prospects can make a huge leap up the draft boards or a free fall downward. But regardless of the Collective Bargaining Agreement negotiations, the show must go on. And it will in Indianapolis in less than two weeks.
Nick Fairley is nearly a lock to go #1 Overall to Carolina.
Patrick Peterson, Da'Quan Bowers, and A.J. Green look to be going #2-4, but which order is up for grabs.
Blaine Gabbert looks to be the first quarterback taken, but Cam Newton is gaining ground fast.
Ryan Mallett and Jake Locker may not go in the first round at all.
There will be more defensive players taken in the first round than offensive.
Tight End and Safety are the two thinnest positions at the top of the draft.
There may not be an offensive lineman selected in the top 10. How rare is that? The last time it happened was in 2005.
I will soon be posting my first DSA Player Rankings of 2011, along with my own Mock Draft. With the ongoing labor negotiations, it will be interesting to see how it will effect the NFL Scouting Combine coming up at the end of February. The Combine has been the one venue where draft prospects can make a huge leap up the draft boards or a free fall downward. But regardless of the Collective Bargaining Agreement negotiations, the show must go on. And it will in Indianapolis in less than two weeks.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Mock Drafts starting to roll
Mock Drafts for the 2011 NFL Draft have been coming out for a while now. Even back in November and December. But I've always been one to wait. Wait for the underclassmen to declare and wait for the Super Bowl so that the draft order is finalized. But today was the day that mock drafts became somewhat official, as Mel Kiper, Jr on ESPN and Charles Davis on NFL Network put out their first mock drafts.
My exclusive Draft Slot Average is based on player draft positions accumulated from many mock drafts, but that information will not be collected until after the Super Bowl. But it is interesting to see just how varied the early mocks are at this time.
The three most popular 1st Overall picks are A.J. Green, Nick Fairley, and Da'Quan Bowers. But I've seen Blaine Gabbert going first overall as well. Ryan Mallett going anywhere from 5th all the way down to 27th. Robert Quinn at 3rd overall down to the 25th pick. Stephen Paea from 8th to not even in the first round. The variations from one mock draft to another is unbelieveable. Which goes to show just how deep the draft is again this year.
In 2010, Sam Bradford was the solid choice to go #1 after his workout, and he moved into the top spot of my DSA player rankings with Ndamukong Suh the choice for second overall and Gerald McCoy third off the board. These choices held true, but in 2011 there looks to be such wide divisions in who will go where in the top 10 that I can see my DSA's going all over the board. So let the mock draft season begin, and I'll have my own posted the week after the Super Bowl and my first DSA rankings soon thereafter.
My exclusive Draft Slot Average is based on player draft positions accumulated from many mock drafts, but that information will not be collected until after the Super Bowl. But it is interesting to see just how varied the early mocks are at this time.
The three most popular 1st Overall picks are A.J. Green, Nick Fairley, and Da'Quan Bowers. But I've seen Blaine Gabbert going first overall as well. Ryan Mallett going anywhere from 5th all the way down to 27th. Robert Quinn at 3rd overall down to the 25th pick. Stephen Paea from 8th to not even in the first round. The variations from one mock draft to another is unbelieveable. Which goes to show just how deep the draft is again this year.
In 2010, Sam Bradford was the solid choice to go #1 after his workout, and he moved into the top spot of my DSA player rankings with Ndamukong Suh the choice for second overall and Gerald McCoy third off the board. These choices held true, but in 2011 there looks to be such wide divisions in who will go where in the top 10 that I can see my DSA's going all over the board. So let the mock draft season begin, and I'll have my own posted the week after the Super Bowl and my first DSA rankings soon thereafter.
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Quarterbacks and more Quarterbacks
The NFL Playoffs are down to 4, with the New York Jets pulling off the upset at New England. If you look at the remaining teams, it shows how much teams value the quarterback position. Ben Roethlisberger is the old man of the group, coming into the league in 2004. He has won 2 Super Bowls, and is now making his fourth appearance in the AFC Championship Game. You can say what you want about his off-field problems, but Big Ben is the rock that the Steelers have built their foundation on. Remember all the talk at the beginning of the season about Pittsburgh trading Roethlisberger away because of all the problems and the bad light it put the franchise in? You don't hear much about that anymore, do you?
Green Bay drafted Aaron Rodgers in 2005 with the thought that he would eventually replace Brett Favre. He sat and watched for three season, then Favre announced his retirement after the Packers loss in the 2007 NFC Championship game. Rodgers was made the starter, and when Favre announced he was coming back, the Packers did what many considered unthinkable and traded the Packer legend to the Jets. Rodgers has led the Packers to the playoffs the last two seasons, and was nearly perfect in a dismantling of the Atlanta Falcons on Saturday. Packer fans may have felt the front office was out of their minds to trade Favre. I don't think too many feel that way now.
The Chicago Bears looked like they might be mortgaging their future a bit when they traded for Jay Cutler. The move left them with no picks in the first 2 rounds of the 2010 NFL Draft, and though he has ability to burn, Cutler had yet to prove himself a winner in Denver. His first season in Chicago saw Cutler getting intercepted at an alarming rate, and winding up on his backside just as often. But the arrival of Mike Martz has had a tremendous effect on Cutler, and this weekend he became the first quarterback to throw for 2 touchdowns and run for 2 in the same game since Otto Graham. He is now one game away from leading the Bears to the Super Bowl.
The New York Jets traded up with Cleveland to select Mark Sanchez with the 5th Overall selection of the 2009 NFL Draft. Combined with Coach Rex Ryan, they have given the Jets a swagger and confidence that the franchise has not had for years, and now they have won 4 road playoff games in their first two seasons. After getting handily beaten in December by the Patriots, the Jets went into Foxboro and knocked off the favorites to win the Super Bowl this season. Now they are one game away from leading the Jets to their first Super Bowl since another quarterback with an excess of confidence, Joe Namath, led New York to victory in Super Bowl III.
Quarterback is the most important position in team sports. Next weekend, four quarterbacks that their teams have trusted with the keys to the franchise will try to drive them to the ultimate destination, the Super Bowl. With the upcoming 2011 NFL Draft, teams will be looking for find the quarterback that can lead their teams to the same destination. Will it be Ryan Mallett? Cam Newton, Blaine Gabbert, or Jake Locker? Or will it be a diamond in the rough like Tom Brady? Only time, and Lombardi Trophies, will tell the whole story.
Green Bay drafted Aaron Rodgers in 2005 with the thought that he would eventually replace Brett Favre. He sat and watched for three season, then Favre announced his retirement after the Packers loss in the 2007 NFC Championship game. Rodgers was made the starter, and when Favre announced he was coming back, the Packers did what many considered unthinkable and traded the Packer legend to the Jets. Rodgers has led the Packers to the playoffs the last two seasons, and was nearly perfect in a dismantling of the Atlanta Falcons on Saturday. Packer fans may have felt the front office was out of their minds to trade Favre. I don't think too many feel that way now.
The Chicago Bears looked like they might be mortgaging their future a bit when they traded for Jay Cutler. The move left them with no picks in the first 2 rounds of the 2010 NFL Draft, and though he has ability to burn, Cutler had yet to prove himself a winner in Denver. His first season in Chicago saw Cutler getting intercepted at an alarming rate, and winding up on his backside just as often. But the arrival of Mike Martz has had a tremendous effect on Cutler, and this weekend he became the first quarterback to throw for 2 touchdowns and run for 2 in the same game since Otto Graham. He is now one game away from leading the Bears to the Super Bowl.
The New York Jets traded up with Cleveland to select Mark Sanchez with the 5th Overall selection of the 2009 NFL Draft. Combined with Coach Rex Ryan, they have given the Jets a swagger and confidence that the franchise has not had for years, and now they have won 4 road playoff games in their first two seasons. After getting handily beaten in December by the Patriots, the Jets went into Foxboro and knocked off the favorites to win the Super Bowl this season. Now they are one game away from leading the Jets to their first Super Bowl since another quarterback with an excess of confidence, Joe Namath, led New York to victory in Super Bowl III.
Quarterback is the most important position in team sports. Next weekend, four quarterbacks that their teams have trusted with the keys to the franchise will try to drive them to the ultimate destination, the Super Bowl. With the upcoming 2011 NFL Draft, teams will be looking for find the quarterback that can lead their teams to the same destination. Will it be Ryan Mallett? Cam Newton, Blaine Gabbert, or Jake Locker? Or will it be a diamond in the rough like Tom Brady? Only time, and Lombardi Trophies, will tell the whole story.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
End of the season
With their victory in the BCS Championship Game, Auburn claimed the National Title and capped an exciting season of college football. Now with 4 days until the deadline for underclassmen to declare for the 2011 NFL Draft the season for analyzing players and their draft prospects has begun.
For me, there are two players that dramatically increased their draft stock with their performance in the post-season bowl games. They are Nick Fairley, defensive tackle from Auburn, and Cameron Heyward, defensive end from Ohio State.
Fairley was seen as a top 5 pick if he decides to enter the draft, and after his performance against Oregon he is now seen as a possible 1st Overall selection. In the championship game he spent most of his time in the Ducks backfield. The best players bring their best games to the biggest stages, and Fairley was an unstoppable force. Now he is drawing comparisons to Ndamukong Suh, but I believe that is a bit premature. Suh was dominant enough in the 2009 season to be named the AP Player of the Year. He showed in his rookie season with the Detroit Lions that he will be one of the best defensive players for years to come in the NFL. Fairley can attain that same status if he can bring his best game to the next biggest stage, that being the NFL. But as of now he has not declared for the draft, so we will wait and see what his decision will be.
Whatever team Ryan Mallett winds up on, I imagine he is hoping that Heyward does not end up on a division rival. Heyward showed the speed and strength that coaches in the NFL covet greatly for a defensive end, and he was a disruptive force the entire game for the Buckeyes in their win against Arkansas. NFL offensive tackles are getting quicker and more mobile all the time, and a defensive end cannot rely on speed alone to get to the quarterback. Undersized defensive ends like Vernon Gholston, Derrick Harvey and Aaron Maybin have been top 11 draft picks in recent drafts, and can't make it on the field. I see Heyward as having the combination of size, speed and strength needed to play both end and tackle in the NFL, and his showing in the Sugar Bowl should help his draft stock rise. Many early mock drafts have Heyward gong in the mid to late 1st Round, but it would not be a stretch for him to jump up towards the top 10 if he has an excellent workout at the February NFL Scouting Combine.
I labeled the 2010 NFL Draft as The Year of The Big Uglies, due to the prominence of offensive and defensive lineman at the top of the draft. With the committment of Andrew Luck to stay at Stanford, and no quarterback looking to go higher than 7th to San Francisco, the 2011 NFL Draft is shaping up to be Big Uglies Part 2.
For me, there are two players that dramatically increased their draft stock with their performance in the post-season bowl games. They are Nick Fairley, defensive tackle from Auburn, and Cameron Heyward, defensive end from Ohio State.
Fairley was seen as a top 5 pick if he decides to enter the draft, and after his performance against Oregon he is now seen as a possible 1st Overall selection. In the championship game he spent most of his time in the Ducks backfield. The best players bring their best games to the biggest stages, and Fairley was an unstoppable force. Now he is drawing comparisons to Ndamukong Suh, but I believe that is a bit premature. Suh was dominant enough in the 2009 season to be named the AP Player of the Year. He showed in his rookie season with the Detroit Lions that he will be one of the best defensive players for years to come in the NFL. Fairley can attain that same status if he can bring his best game to the next biggest stage, that being the NFL. But as of now he has not declared for the draft, so we will wait and see what his decision will be.
Whatever team Ryan Mallett winds up on, I imagine he is hoping that Heyward does not end up on a division rival. Heyward showed the speed and strength that coaches in the NFL covet greatly for a defensive end, and he was a disruptive force the entire game for the Buckeyes in their win against Arkansas. NFL offensive tackles are getting quicker and more mobile all the time, and a defensive end cannot rely on speed alone to get to the quarterback. Undersized defensive ends like Vernon Gholston, Derrick Harvey and Aaron Maybin have been top 11 draft picks in recent drafts, and can't make it on the field. I see Heyward as having the combination of size, speed and strength needed to play both end and tackle in the NFL, and his showing in the Sugar Bowl should help his draft stock rise. Many early mock drafts have Heyward gong in the mid to late 1st Round, but it would not be a stretch for him to jump up towards the top 10 if he has an excellent workout at the February NFL Scouting Combine.
I labeled the 2010 NFL Draft as The Year of The Big Uglies, due to the prominence of offensive and defensive lineman at the top of the draft. With the committment of Andrew Luck to stay at Stanford, and no quarterback looking to go higher than 7th to San Francisco, the 2011 NFL Draft is shaping up to be Big Uglies Part 2.
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Carolina has no Luck at all
Andrew Luck has made his decision, and he is remaining at Stanford. The 2011 NFL Draft has lost it's brightest star, but there is still plenty of talented players on the board and yet to declare. Now the Carolina Panthers have a franchise altering decision to make. Do they use the 1st Overall Selection of the draft on a quarterback, or do they believe that Jimmy Clausen or Matt Moore is the answer and go in another direction.
The top four quarterbacks are Ryan Mallett, Cam Newton, Jake Locker and Blaine Gabbert. I believe that Carolina will see their two incumbents and say that they are better off with Clausen and Moore. So it looks like they may be headed to shoring up the defense.
When Carolina came off of a 1-15 season in 2001, their first draft pick the next year was Julius Peppers. Peppers was a freak at the defensive end position. Tall enough to play basketball in college, and strong and fast enough to consistently pressure quarterbacks in the NFL. He was the cornerstone of the Panthers defense that made it to the Super Bowl after the 2003 season and earned the #2 Seed in the NFC after the 2008 season. But Peppers left for Chicago via free agency, and though Charles Johnson emerged as a pass rushing threat, the Panthers defense still ranked near the bottom of the league.
The NFL is a quarterback driven league. You need one to lead the offense, and you need to get to the other teams' quarterback to stop the opposition. If the Panthers do not get Johnson help on at the other end, he will face more and more double teams and his production will drop. So with the 1st Overall Pick of the 2011 NFL Draft the Carolina Panthers select...Da'Quan Bowers, defensive end fro Clemson.
Bowers was all but unblockable last season at Clemson. 24 tackles for loss and 15 sacks. If he were paired with Johnson the Panthers would have a pass rushing duo that compares favorably to a younger version of Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis in Indianapolis. If Bowers can translate his success at Clemson to the NFL he coudl very easily be the taken at the top of the draft.
Carolina has 3 and a half months to determine if they player they are going to select will have the impact that Julius Peppers had 9 years ago. The right decision get them out of the cellar. The wrong decision keeps them on the clock for the 2012 NFL Draft. We shall see.
The top four quarterbacks are Ryan Mallett, Cam Newton, Jake Locker and Blaine Gabbert. I believe that Carolina will see their two incumbents and say that they are better off with Clausen and Moore. So it looks like they may be headed to shoring up the defense.
When Carolina came off of a 1-15 season in 2001, their first draft pick the next year was Julius Peppers. Peppers was a freak at the defensive end position. Tall enough to play basketball in college, and strong and fast enough to consistently pressure quarterbacks in the NFL. He was the cornerstone of the Panthers defense that made it to the Super Bowl after the 2003 season and earned the #2 Seed in the NFC after the 2008 season. But Peppers left for Chicago via free agency, and though Charles Johnson emerged as a pass rushing threat, the Panthers defense still ranked near the bottom of the league.
The NFL is a quarterback driven league. You need one to lead the offense, and you need to get to the other teams' quarterback to stop the opposition. If the Panthers do not get Johnson help on at the other end, he will face more and more double teams and his production will drop. So with the 1st Overall Pick of the 2011 NFL Draft the Carolina Panthers select...Da'Quan Bowers, defensive end fro Clemson.
Bowers was all but unblockable last season at Clemson. 24 tackles for loss and 15 sacks. If he were paired with Johnson the Panthers would have a pass rushing duo that compares favorably to a younger version of Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis in Indianapolis. If Bowers can translate his success at Clemson to the NFL he coudl very easily be the taken at the top of the draft.
Carolina has 3 and a half months to determine if they player they are going to select will have the impact that Julius Peppers had 9 years ago. The right decision get them out of the cellar. The wrong decision keeps them on the clock for the 2012 NFL Draft. We shall see.
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